The Gnostic Gospels (Modern Library 100 Best Nonfiction Books)

The Gnostic Gospels is a study of early Christianity based on texts discovered in 1945 when an Egyptian peasant unearthed thirteen papyrus volumes. These documents present teachings of Jesus Christ that differ significantly from the New Testament. Religious scholar Elaine Pagels examines these sacred texts, including the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, to explore how multiple forms of Christianity developed during the religion's early period. The discovered gospels reveal that early Christians held diverse beliefs and practices. Some questioned the necessity of clergy and church doctrine, believing the divine could be found through personal spiritual exploration. Others sought enlightenment and access to God through inner experience. These early Christians debated fundamental questions: whether the resurrection was symbolic or literal, whether God should be understood in both masculine and feminine forms, and whether martyrdom was essential to faith. Their inquiries led to different interpretations of Jesus and his teachings than those later established as orthodox Christianity. First published in 1979, the book won the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. It has been selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time.